CMAT Critical Thinking and Decision Making 2

Question 1

Which of the following best illustrates 'groupthink' in an organizational setting?

Accepted Answer

Team members suppress dissenting views to maintain group harmony

Answer

Groupthink occurs when the desire for group harmony overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives, causing members to suppress doubts and conform to the apparent consensus.

Question 2

In critical thinking, an 'ad hominem' fallacy occurs when:

Accepted Answer

An argument attacks the person making it rather than addressing the argument itself

Answer

An ad hominem fallacy occurs when someone attacks the character or circumstances of the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument's actual merits.

Question 3

Which problem-solving technique involves generating a large number of ideas without initial judgment or criticism?

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming

Answer

Brainstorming is a creative technique where participants generate a large number of ideas freely, with evaluation deferred to a later stage to encourage creativity and volume.

Question 4

A manager notices that sales dropped after launching a new marketing campaign and concludes the campaign caused the drop. What logical error has been committed?

Accepted Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Answer

Post hoc ergo propter hoc is the fallacy of assuming that because one event followed another, the first must have caused the second, without establishing actual causation.

Question 5

The 'Pareto Principle' (80/20 rule) applied to decision making suggests that:

Accepted Answer

20% of causes produce approximately 80% of effects

Answer

The Pareto Principle states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes, helping managers focus attention and resources on the most impactful factors.

CMAT - Common Management Admission Test Practice Test

CMAT - Common Management Admission Test Practice Test

CMAT Critical Thinking and Decision Making 2